In the heart of the conservative South, the 15 volunteer members of the Texas Board of Education convene once a decade to decide on textbook standards for the state’s schools— decisions that, due to Texas’ purchasing power, ultimately affect schoolbook publications across the nation. Spearheaded by Don McLeroy—an Evangelical Christian and a dentist by trade— the BOE has made its way to the forefront of our nation’s culture wars, overseeing changes to science and social studies curricula (like cutting Thomas Jefferson from the history books) that fit with the staunchly religious views of McLeroy and other fundamentalist board members. First-time filmmaker Scott Thurman’s rousing documentary offers a remarkably even-handed look behind the curtain at the impassioned debate as Democrats and more moderate Republicans start to fight back against this violation of the separation of church and state.

In Person: Director Scott Thurman.